Brock Belik of Orchard, Neb., is leading after Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell with 11 pounds, 5 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
November 6, 2019
ANDERSON, S.C. — Brock Belik is 1,300 miles from home, but he looked quite comfortable on Lake Hartwell on Wednesday during Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Belik, who lives in Orchard, Neb., and qualified for the Championship via the South Dakota B.A.S.S. Nation, caught a five-bass limit of 11 pounds, 15 ounces to take the lead.
A total of 115 anglers from 47 states and 11 foreign countries are competing in this three-day event. They are fishing for a total purse of $141,300. But also on the line are three berths in the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Belik knows there’s plenty of work to be done if he’s to qualify for this Classic. Still, the 28-year old angler was pleased with his showing Wednesday, knowing it put him in good position to make Thursday’s cut.
“I’ve put everything I could into this tournament to try and put myself in contention on Friday,” he said. “I thought I only had 10, 10 1/2 pounds today, so I’m really happy with the weight.”
Belik said he covered lots of water looking for sizable bites. His heaviest bass, which weighed approximately 3 1/4 pounds, came soon after take-off. He added a 2 1/2-pound kicker with approximately 10 minutes of remaining, and that catch likely locked up the Day 1 lead.
Belik weighed four spotted bass and one largemouth in his charge to the top of the leaderboard.
“There are a lot of fish, it was just hard to get the big ones,” he said. “I’m fishing deep, drop shot kind of stuff. I think the key is hitting as many spots as you can. It’s a running-and-gunning kind of deal.”
Belik said Lake Hartwell is not much different than the fisheries he frequents in America’s heartland. He also said a two-week trip to Hartwell in September helped him get an idea of what to expect from the 56,000-acre lake here in the northwest corner of the Palmetto State.
“There’s clear water at home, and you have that here,” he said. “It’s setting up perfectly for me.”
Tim Johnston of Team Montana was the second boater to weigh-in Wednesday, and he’s in second place with five bass that weighed 11-13. Justy Varkevisser of South Africa is third with 11-6, Steve Lund of Team Arizona is fourth with 11-1 and Nicholas Prvonozac of Team Ohio is fifth with 10-15.
Barry Ward of Team Kentucky seized the lead in the nonboater division with a five-bass limit of 11-6. He only had six bites fishing from the back of Kenneth Reed’s boat, but the five he caught were good ones.
“The bite was really pretty slow today,” Ward said. “I was fortunate. (Reed) was a great guy to have in the front of the boat. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I hope I can catch some more nice fish on Thursday.”
Kyle Graham of Team Wyoming is second among the nonboaters with a 10-3 limit. Scott Seros of Team Oregon is third with 9-9.
Scott Perrine of Bonneau, S.C., caught the big bass of the day — a 6-1 toad that gave him the edge for the $1,000 prize that goes to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the Championship.
“I caught it late today,” Perrine said, adding he caught the bass on a Carolina rig. “We found a little pattern, fishing rocky points. I was just dragging.”
The 115 anglers (59 boaters, 56 nonboaters) competing at Hartwell qualified via their individual state tournaments and then one of three B.A.S.S. Nation regional events held earlier this year. The victorious boater and nonboater from each state participating in the regionals advanced to this week’s Championship, as did leading boaters and nonboaters from different countries.
The full Championship field will fish again beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET Thursday. The nonboater champion will be crowned Thursday afternoon, but his work won’t be done. That winner will compete with the Top 10 boaters on Friday, as will the top two boaters from each region who failed to make the Top 10 cut. Friday’s field also will include any nonboater who had enough weight to have finished in the Top 10 in the boater filed.
Anglers with the three heaviest total weights of the tournament will qualify for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, set for March 6-8 on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. The winning boater will also secure a spot in the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Takeoff and weigh-in in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship are being held at Green Pond Landing.
Visit Anderson is hosting.
2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Lake Hartwell 11/6-11/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
2. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-13
3. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg SOUTH AFRI 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
4. Steve Lund Glendale, AZ 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
5. Nicholas Prvonozac Warren, OH 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
6. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-14
7. Keith Glasgow Guin, AL 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12
8. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11
9. Pedro Rodrigues Evora Portugal PORTUGAL 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10
10. Matthew Langford Kingaroy Queensland AUS 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
11. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
12. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 10-06 0
Day 1: 5 10-06
13. Brandon Morris Harrisonburg, VA 5 10-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-01
14. Ricardo Gonzalez Monterrey MEXICO 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
14. Taylor Smith Spokane Valley, WA 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
16. Ramiro Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15
17. Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 5 09-08 0
Day 1: 5 09-08
18. Andy Smith Jacksonville, FL 5 09-06 0
Day 1: 5 09-06
19. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 5 09-02
20. Thomas Nokes Riverton, UT 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00
21. Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, NM 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
22. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
22. Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
24. Levi McNeill West Valley City, UT 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
25. James Biggs Euless, TX 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
25. Kelly Kellogg Kelso, WA 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
25. Eduardo Trevino South Elgin, IL 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
28. Al Gambardella North Haven, CT 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
29. Katsutoshi Furusawa Kanagawa JAPAN 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
30. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
31. Laurence Hogue Kennebunk, ME 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-13
32. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 5 07-09 0
Day 1: 5 07-09
33. Liam MacDonald Glen Lorne Harare ZIMB 4 07-09 0
Day 1: 4 07-09
34. Ken Carter Enterprise, FL 5 07-06 0
Day 1: 5 07-06
35. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 5 07-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-03
35. Steve Tosh Modesto, CA 5 07-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-03
37. Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV 5 07-02 0
Day 1: 5 07-02
38. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 5 06-13 0
Day 1: 5 06-13
39. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12
39. Jason Pittman Covington, MS 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12
41. Enrico Zancanaro Rovigo ITALY 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12
42. Chris Sperling Cato, NY 5 06-11 0
Day 1: 5 06-11
43. Mike Wallis Hallsville, MO 4 06-09 0
Day 1: 4 06-09
44. Allan Reaves Pottsville, AR 5 06-08 0
Day 1: 5 06-08
45. Greg Walker Manning, SC 5 06-07 0
Day 1: 5 06-07
46. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 5 06-04 0
Day 1: 5 06-04
47. Rick Eller Taylorsville, NC 5 06-02 0
Day 1: 5 06-02
48. Kenneth Reed Buck, IN 3 06-00 0
Day 1: 3 06-00
49. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 4 05-11 0
Day 1: 4 05-11
50. Jeremy Montgomery Overland Park, KS 4 05-08 0
Day 1: 4 05-08
51. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 5 05-02 0
Day 1: 5 05-02
52. Douglas Savino Tyrone, PA 5 05-01 0
Day 1: 5 05-01
53. Mark Borchers Akron, IA 3 04-09 0
Day 1: 3 04-09
54. Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 3 03-11 0
Day 1: 3 03-11
55. Dylan Welch Castleton, VT 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
56. Gary Schild Mundelein, IL 2 02-13 0
Day 1: 2 02-13
57. Howard Hartley Patterson, LA 2 02-04 0
Day 1: 2 02-04
57. Thinus Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA 2 02-04 0
Day 1: 2 02-04
59. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry ONTARIO CANA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 268 455-15
———————————-
47 268 455-15
2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Lake Hartwell 11/6-11/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Barry Ward Louisville, KY 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
2. Kyle Graham North Ogden, UT 5 10-03 0
Day 1: 5 10-03
3. Scott Seros Bend, OR 5 09-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-09
4. Taylor Burgin Palo, ID 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
5. Luis Vilar Madrid SPAIN 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-01
6. Mark Melega Rice Landing, PA 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
7. Kuniaki Taga Aichi JAPAN 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
8. Gary Schipporeit Westminster, CO 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
9. Aaron Russell Hoschton, GA 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
10. David Stafford Sanger, TX 4 08-00 0
Day 1: 4 08-00
11. Devin Pino Kansas City, KS 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-13
12. Eduardo Fouto Montariguil Portugal PO 5 07-12 0
Day 1: 5 07-12
13. Jonathan Bryson Las Vegas, NV 5 07-05 0
Day 1: 5 07-05
13. Ryan Gutierrez Weiser, ID 5 07-05 0
Day 1: 5 07-05
15. Brad Hauf Elephant Butte, NM 5 07-04 0
Day 1: 5 07-04
16. Jurgen Geiger Windhoek Namibia NAMIBI 5 07-02 0
Day 1: 5 07-02
16. Jordan Schwartzkopf Peoria, AZ 5 07-02 0
Day 1: 5 07-02
18. Curtis Hughes Greenwood, IN 4 07-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-02
19. Scott Perrine Bonneau, SC 2 07-00 0
Day 1: 2 07-00
20. Jordan Trainor Erin, TN 5 06-14 0
Day 1: 5 06-14
21. Ruan Wahl Witbank South Africa SO 4 06-14 0
Day 1: 4 06-14
22. Stanley Beebe San Luis obispo, CA 4 06-13 0
Day 1: 4 06-13
23. Mike Szczechowski Strafford, MO 2 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 06-13
24. John Jasper Lemont, IL 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12
25. Addam Gross Pendleton, OR 5 06-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-06
25. Chris Morrison St. Mary’s, WV 5 06-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-06
27. Marcus Futter Harare ZIMBABWE 5 06-05 0
Day 1: 5 06-05
28. Justin Foster Bude, MS 4 05-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-15
29. Michael Duell II Syracuse, NY 5 05-14 0
Day 1: 5 05-14
30. Austin Johnson Noxon, MT 4 05-13 0
Day 1: 4 05-13
31. Greg Chesnut Bedford, VA 5 05-09 0
Day 1: 5 05-09
32. Aaron Cherry KINSEY, AL 3 05-03 0
Day 1: 3 05-03
33. JR Clark Milton, DE 4 05-01 0
Day 1: 4 05-01
34. Todd Stiehl Winner, SD 5 04-15 0
Day 1: 5 04-15
35. Zach Yarnes Lakeville, MN 4 04-13 0
Day 1: 4 04-13
36. Austin Pittman Maumelle, AR 4 04-07 0
Day 1: 4 04-07
37. Brock Gullixon Lola, WI 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-06
38. Eduardo Olalla Col. Lomasn Del Tecnolo 4 04-02 0
Day 1: 4 04-02
39. Dan Posey Niles, MI 3 04-01 0
Day 1: 3 04-01
40. Kelvin Grubbs Pryor, OK 4 03-09 0
Day 1: 4 03-09
41. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 3 03-08
41. Rj Ricci Cranston, RI 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 3 03-08
43. Ray Rios Budd Lake, NJ 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
44. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 3 02-14 0
Day 1: 3 02-14
45. Gregory Decell Bridgewater, VT 2 02-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-12
46. Casey Marshall Frederick, MD 2 02-09 0
Day 1: 2 02-09
47. Brian Jarvis Coventry, RI 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
48. Vincent Scaillerez Bedarrides FRANCE 2 02-03 0
Day 1: 2 02-03
49. Phillip Rummel Jr Mount Vernon, OH 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
50. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 5 01-03 0
Day 1: 5 01-03
51. David Cohen St Augustine, FL 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14
52. Scott Blaesi Hershey, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
52. John Foster Byfield, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
52. Bryan McCleary Watertown, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
52. Brenda Swett Auburn, ME 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
52. Ed Vienneau Shelburne, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
